Upper Providence residents complain about traffic, flooding concerns

UPPER PROVIDENCE — Traffic and flooding problems were brought to the attention of township supervisors at a recent meeting.

Port Providence resident Robert Simms told officials at a July 7 meeting that it’s dangerous to walk along his neighborhood streets.

“I have a great concern for safety on Hollow Road between Egypt and Port Providence Roads and Canal Street.” Simms and his wife Lynne live on Hollow Road downhill from the railroad bridge.

Simms said he and others who walk along the narrow area roads without shoulders and sidewalks have seen an increase in vehicle traffic exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit. He specifically called out a curvy section of his road near Volpe Lane that was repaved several years ago.

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“I shouldn’t have to be afraid to walk down the street in my own neighborhood, where we pay taxes. We should feel safe in our community, but we don’t.”

Simms said when walkers yell at motorists to slow down, those drivers usually yell back. After mentioning concern for his neighbor in a wheelchair who walks her dog in area where “there is not police presence”, he added, “I don’t know what to do about it.”

Supervisors’ Chairwoman Lisa Mossie replied, “well, you’re here to tell us about it so we can get some targeted police presence down there.” She confirmed from Simms that the speeding vehicles are cars not trucks. Volpe Lane at Hollow Road will eventually be the home of three truck-serviced warehouses owned by Volpe, Pitt-Ohio, and Sheppard Redistribution.

Simms recommended the police visit his area for several days and not just on a Sunday afternoon or for five minutes. “Come down for a couple of days to see what happens.”

Police Chief Mark Toomey said, “you can call me at any time sir, I’ll be happy to talk to you,” and promised, “someone will be out there this week.”

Mossie told Simms, “when you have problems like that I’m glad you came to us with this so we can address them, we have a mechanism to address them.”

Lynne Simms reiterated, “we’re afraid there is a tragedy going to happen, it’s getting ridiculous,” and because cars that come close to hitting her don’t slow down, “it is very scary.” She also highlighted the dangerous and blind S-turn intersection at Hollow, Port Providence, and Store roads. “You can’t get across there fast enough,” she said. “I’d like to see speed bumps and stop signs.”

Melissa Hayes, the Simms’s Port Providence Road neighbor, shared that cars “tail her” when she drives home from Egypt Road. “I came on the spur of the moment,” she explained the Simms had invited her to join them. “Now that I realize that we have meetings like this, I want to do better for my community. I have a ten-year-old daughter. She likes to ride her scooter, she likes to ride her bike, but I don’t want her out on Port Providence Road.”

She began, “I’m here to address the letter I received from, I’m not sure who.” Mossie said, “it’s from the board of supervisors.” When Patrick noted the letter wasn’t signed, and Mossie offered to sign it, Patrick replied, “that’s okay.”

Patrick grilled the supervisors. “First, I want to know where you guys got the information where the swales were, what map or aerial view, or something that you have, that there are swales, because you guys were not from this area when those houses were built, and the swales were particular in that area.” Patrick requested written documentation that shows the now missing swales had been constructed in her Oaks Garden neighborhood that is bisected by Gumbes Road between Egypt and Black Rock roads.

After supervisor Philip Barker remarked, “it is quite obvious where they were,” Patrick spat, “but there are also woods at the top of the hill and woods across the street that absorb that water so there was no water run-off. There was very little run-off in this area.”

Mossie explained that all new developments must now be constructed so there is zero impact to the surrounding communities. However, when Oaks Gardens was constructed, no such regulations were in place. When Mossie said storms are different these days, dumping more rainwater than in the past, Patrick asked if the township has photographic evidence of water running downhill onto her property.

Vice Chairman John Pearson, who has visited her area during and after rainstorms, said he has only seen “puddles here and there but nothing major that’s being washed away.” He continued, “I’m not saying that you’re not getting a lot of rain like everybody else is getting rain,” and “honestly, I’m sorry, but I don’t see the devastation from the rains that you guys, that everyone down there is telling me.”

Three sump pumps run every few minutes in Patrick’s home to remove water from her basement as opposed to the single pump installed prior to 1994 when she moved into her house. “There is so much more water now.”

Pearson offered to give Patrick his cell phone number so he can view flooding conditions firsthand.

Regarding potential storm water improvements, Patrick asked, “who is going to be doing the homework?” Mossie answered, “the homework is being done right now,” explaining public work and engineering work has been done at township expense to figure out where the water is coming from. “Our experts are telling us that the water is coming from your development, so that’s what we have to work with. We can’t fix the problem if we don’t know where it is.”

Because the solutions that will require restoration of swales on private properties will not be paid by the township, Mossie said they would seek grants and public/private partnerships to fund the solution. “If I go three days without hearing about storm water issue in this township, it’s a miracle.” Mossie admitted she also often gets water in the basement of her Oaks home.

Mossie apologizing if the township’s intent in the letter Patrick received was not clear, adding, “we’ve heard we’re not doing anything, but we’re done a lot to address the storm water issue. It is not a problem that’s happened overnight and it’s not going to have a solution that can be fixed overnight.”